Bottle capper



July 24, 1928. 1,678,303

" H. G. RICE )BOTTLE CAPPER Filed May 2, 1925 Patented July 24-, 1928.

uniran sra res HAROLD e. RICE, or CHICAGO, rLLINoIs,

. BOTTLE CAPPER.

Application filed May 2,

My invention relates to bottle cappers and more especially to novel means for raising the operating lever to an elevated position after the lever is depressed as by hand, to apply a cap to a bottle and thenreleased, and for normally retaining the lever in this position so that the same is in an operatiye raised and convenient position for use n applying the caps. D

' Heretofore, in the type of bottle capping implement such as shown in my Reissue Patent No. 15,222, dated November 8, 1921, when the operating handle was depressed to apply a cap to a bottle, there was no means to automatically raise the handle and the latter would remain inthedown position until raised by hand. This rendered it inconvenient to operate the capper since'the capped bottle could. not be easily removed and another bottle to be capped and the cap to be. applied thereto, could not be conveniently placed in. position. Besides, this required the use of one hand in raising the handle and holding the same in anelevated position, leavingonly one hand free to place the bottle and cap in position, thereby slowing down production. i

The present invention embodies a simple construction and novel means for supporting or holdingthe lever, as well as the rider or slide and oapping head carried thereby, in an elevated or operative position for use and'so that when tllGlGVGI' or handle is swung downwardly to apply a cap to abottle and pressure is released therefrom after the cap is applied, the lever will be automatically ele- .vate dand maintained in a position to be conveniently grasped and used in applying the caps, being removed or raised away from and above the bottle whereby both hands are free and the bottles and caps may be conveniently placed in position beneath the capping head, the caps applied and the bottles removed without interference or obstruction by'the' capping head'or handle, and the necessity of raising the lever by hand after a cap is applied to the bottle, obviated.

The invention also consists in certain details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specified. y

On the drawings:

Fi 1 is a side elevation of a bottle capper equipped'in accordance with the invention;

1925. Serial No. 27,378.

2is a vertical sectional view taken on the1 plane of thesection line 22 of Fig.3 is a detail side elevation of across arm constituting a particular part of the Fig.1;

"i Improvement.

Referring to the drawings, a, bottle capper of the type shown in my prior patent above referred to, is illustrated. It consists of a frame including a base or base plate 1 adapted to be anchoredto a work bench or table and havingsides '5 bentupwardly there from. The frame proper is of bowed formtlLlOll and has sides 6 anchored at their lower ends to the sides 5 of the base as in dicatedat 7 and having their upper portions brought together and connectedas by means of rivets 8. Theupper portions are straight or f rider or slide 10 preferably fashioned from a single plate formed into a rear wall, and

sides having extensions 11 suitably spaced apart as by a notch in the lower edge of one extension defining an inner wing prolonged transversely of the rider into engagement with the other extension and the second extension having a notch in its-upper edge, wh le the sides are prov ded at their forward edges with apei'tured cars 12 connected by a securing device or rivet 13, the ears being located above the extensions. The space defined bythe rear wall, the sides and the IDHQPWIHQ and ears ofthe rider, accommo-.

dates the rack bar so thatthe rider may move up and down thereon lat and rectilinearaiid provided at their Alever 14 is pivoted at 15 so as to fulcrum the samebetweenlthe extensions 11 and as shown, the handle preferably has its outer or gripping portion shaped from a bent piece of metal to fitthe contour of the hand in grasping the same and an inner portion 16 comprising a pair of plates riveted between the sides of the portion l las indicatedi'itlf and their inner edges formed with co-acting teethproviding a segment or segmental rack 18 and meshing with the rack 9. One of the extensions 11 isprovided with an extension 19 which is prolonged transversely between the extensions "11 at the bottom of the slot therebetweenand beneathlthe shank of the handle 1 1 so as to limit the downward swing of the latter when depressed, by contact of the lower edge of the shank of the handle 'therewith. A capping head 20 is carried by the extensions 11, being preferably riveted to downward extensions thereof extended through slots in the end wall of the head as indicated at 21. a This ca inn" headisde Pp n signed to receive the bottle'caps in the application of the latter to thebottles.

Vhile I have described the construction of the bottle eapper as set forth in my prior patent and which is preferred in connection with the present improvement, it is to be understood that the details of construction thereof may vary. The particular part of the present improvement consists in mounting a dogwhich may be in the form of an angular cross arm or bell-crank lever 22upon the fulcrum 15 outwardly of one extension 11 and retained in posit1on by the headed end thereof; The forwardly extending arm has an angular portion 28 extending outwardly for connection of a contractile coil spring 241-, thereto at one end, the opposite or lower end of the spring being anchored to the rider 10 adjacent its bottom edge as by hooking the sorin over a hw 25 stam 36d and aressed" out from the bottom edge of one sideof the rider or extension thereof as clearly in dicated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The same arm of the cross arm or lever 22 has a lateral. inward-projection 26. which is designed to engage in back of the rider above the extensions 11 to limit the pivotal movement ofthe cross arm under the tension of "the spring 2 1 and the free end of'the rearwardly extending has a lateral inward extension 27 which 18 designed to engage beneath the 1 shank of the handle or level-.14, whereby the lever is held in a raised position under the action of the spring limited by extension 26 asindicate d in Figure 1. Thus, in the use of thedevice, it will be apparent that the lever willnormally be held in a raised position together with the rider and capping head, so as toclcar the bottle, whereby the bottles may be conveniently placedin posi tion beneath the capping head, the caps applied and thebottles removed without in terference or obstruction by the capping head or handle. This obviates the necessity of raising the lever by hand after a cap isv applied to the bottle and leaves both hands of theoperator free for other service. lVhen a cap is being applied, the bottle is mounted on the base 1 so that'the neck of the bottle willbe beneath the capping head, a cap having been previously placed therein. operator then presses down on the lever let and applies the cap to the bottle owing to the downward movement of the rider by rocking of the segment 18 on the rack 9. During the down-ward .movement of the lever, the shank thereof engages the extens1on2i and rocks The the cross arm 22011 the pivot 15 which is common to the fulcrum of the lever, and raises the forward arm to stretch or extend the spring 24 against its tension, at the same ime moving the extension 26 away from the 'l1ClT. Upon releasing the pressure from the lever 14, the spring 2a will re-act and cause the extension 27 to engage the lever and raise it to an operative position, which movement will swing the rack at the inner end of the lever down and raise the rider, until the extension 26 contacts with the rider. In this position the capping head will have been elevated automatically and removed or raised away from and above the'bottle, thus ping down and obstructing the work by interfering with the free insertion of the bottles or caps and requiring'manual elevation thereof.

By reason of the cross arm 22 being limited in its ,movement'on the pivot 15 of the lever 1a to a horizontal position, the lever 14- will be supported in a horizontal position for convenientuse. It will also be apparent that the lever 1 f maybe swung upwardly to'a substantially vertical position from the substantially horizontal position in which itis supported by the cross arm and. spring, to disengage the teeth of the segmentlS from the teeth of the rack bar 9 to permit free .obviating the possibility ofthe lever dropsliding movement of the rider 10 over the teeth. of the rack bar of the frame, whereby quick initial adjustment of the rider and cappinghead to bottlesof different sizes, maybe obtained. It is, of course, to be understood that the upward swing of the lever leis independent of thecross' arm 22 away from the supporting lugjor extension 27Kvl1ile the cross arm is held against movement under the tension of the spring 24 by engagement of the lug or extenslon 26witlr the rider .10,

lVhileI have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, I am aware that various changesand modifications ma be made without departing fromthe principles of my invention, thescope of which is to be determined by the appended claims to automatically move and normally raise i and. support the lever and capping-headout of capping positionupon pressure being re moved when lowered.

leased therefrom, said member permitting the leverto be raised further out of engagementtherewith. 7

2. In combination with a bottle capper having a base'and a frame having a racln'a rider slidable over the rack, a lever pivoted the rider to hold the lever elevated and against the tension of which the lever is 3. In combination with a bottle capper havmg'a base and a frame havinga rack, a

rider slidable on the rack, a lever pivoted on therider and having a segment meshing with the rack, a capping head carried by the rider, a cross arm pivoted to the rider and adapted to engage beneath thelever, a spring normally raising the cross arm and lever, and means to limit the movement of the crossarm.

4. In'combination with a bottle capper having a base and a frame having a rack, a rider slidable [on the rack, a-lever pivoted on the rider and having a segment meshing with the rack, a capping head carried by the rider, a cross arm pivoted to the rider and-adapted to engage beneath the lever, an extension on the cross arm to engage the rider and limit the movement of the cross arm when the lever is raised, means to limit the downward movement of the lever, and a contractile spring between the rider and the cross arm normally tending to raise the lever and adapted to be expanded when the lever is depressed for actuating the rider and capping head. i

5. In a bottle capper, a frame having a rack, a rider slidable thereon, a lever pivoted to the rider and having a rack segment mesh ing with the rack to raise and lower the rider, and a spring connection between the rider and lever to raise the lever and rider, and including means connected to the spring and movably connected to the rider, and lever, said latter means permitting said lever to be elevated above the position in which normally supported by the spring connection to disengage the segment from the rack and permit quick adjustment of the rider on the rack bar.

G. In a bottle capper, a frame, a rider slidable thereon, a lever pivoted to the rider and cooperative with the frame to raise and lower the rider, a cross arm pivoted on the pivot of the lever and adapted to engage the lever, a spring between the cross arm and rider to normally hold the cross arm engaged with the lever and the lever in a substantially horizontal position, said cross arm and spring permitting the lever to be elevated to a substantially vertical position independently of movement thereofto permitrquick free sliding of the rider on the frame upon operative disconnection of the leverwith the frame. Y

7. A bottle'capper comprising a frame, a rider slidable on the frame, a lever pivoted on the rider and engaging the frame to reciprocate the rider, a capping head carried by the rider, a member pivoted to the r der and having operative connectionwith the "lever," andfmeans between said member and the rider to actuate the member and hold the lever and capping head out of capping position. a

' 8. In combination with a bottle capper having, a base and a frame having a rack, a rider slidable on the rack, a lever'pivoted on the rider and having" asegment meshing withthe rack, a capping head carried by the rider, an arm pivoted to the rider and engaged with'the lever,'and spring means normally raising the arm andlever, and against the tension of which the lever and capping head are moved to capping position.

9.111 a bottle' capper, a frame having a rack, a movable capping member on the frame and movable over the rack, a lever having a toothed segment engaging the rack for moving the capping member into and out of-capping position, a movable member adapted'to 'engagethe lever, means for actuating the movable member to normally hold the lever slightly above horizontal and the capping member slightly elevated, said means maintaining the segment of the lever in operative connection with the rack but permitting the lever to be moved independently thereof to disengage the segment from the rack and permit quick sliding adjustment of the capping member thereof.

10. In combination with a bottle capper having a base and a frame having a rack, a rider slidable over the rack, a lever pivoted on the rider and having a segment meshing with the rack, a capping head carried by the rider, a member pivoted to the rider and adaptedto operatively engage the lever, and spring means between the member and the rider to hold the lever elevated while maintaining operative connection between the segment and the rack.

11. In combination with a bottle capper having a base and a frame having a rack, a rider slidable over the rack, a lever pivoted on the rider and having a segment meshing with the rack, a capping head carried by the rider, a, member movable relative to the rider and adapted to operatively engage the lever, spring means between the member and the rider to hold the lever partially elevated while maintaining the segment in mesh with the rack, and means to limit the upward movement of the lever under the action of i the base having a rack, a rider slidable'on the rack and having a capping head, a lever pivotedvon the rider and having teeth meshing with the rack, spring-actuated means to raise the lever to. a substantiallyhorizontal position and also the rider and capping head out of capping position, and means to limit the raising action of the last named means. y i s 13. In a bottle capper, a base, a. frame on the base having notches, a rider slidable on the frame over the notches and having a capping head, a lever pivoted on the rider and having means to engage with the notches formoving the rider upon actuating the lever, and spring means to raise the lever to-a point above a horizontal position and thel r, and a r ctile p ng b w n the capping member and lever normally :holding and supportingsaid lever in an elevated position andthe capping member out of; capping positionwhile the lever is in operative engagement I with the frame, said spring. being expanded when the leveris swung downwardly to move the capping member into capping position and adapted to permitathelever to be swung upwardly out of operative engagementwith the frame to permit free sliding I of the capping member on'the frame.

' '15. In a bottle capper, a frame having an upright rack, a rider freely slidable upon I the frame, a cappingmember carried by the rider, a hand lever pivotally mounted upon the rider, the lever being provided with a toothed segment in mesh with the rack to form a fulcrum engagement therewith, and

a spring connected to the rider and associated with the lever to automatically swing the lever ,upwardly upon its fulcrum engagement with the rack from a depressed position,w-henreleasedbyithe operator and thereby move the rider and capping member upwardly upon-the frame and hold the lever and theriderand the capping member 'ele- I vated, said lever capable of being turned upwardly upon its pivotal mounting from the elevatedfposition in which it is held by thespring to disengage-thesegment from the rack and thereby permit quick slidable adjustmen-t of the rider along the frame.

HAROLD e. RICE. 

